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> I wonder why that rule exists and what benefit it provides. The first couple presidents couldn't have met it, so I wonder when it was introduced. "No Person
by Thrymr 5y ago
> I wonder why that rule exists and what benefit it provides. The first couple presidents couldn't have met it, so I wonder when it was introduced.
"No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President" from section 1, Article 2 of the US Constitution (adopted 1789).
There is some legal debate about what "natural born Citizen" means now, but that has not fully been testing in court IIUC.
- SllX 5y agoI think it only really comes up for debate when someone wants to question the eligibility of Presidential candidates for political reasons. I recall a rather minor kerfuffle around McCain’s eligibility (born in the Panama Canal Zone when it was under US Jurisdiction) back in the ‘08 election that was basically meaningless and I think then Senator Obama sponsored a bill that basically clarified this. There’s two sources of law for determining citizenship though: 1. The Constitution and 2. Laws that Congress passes. If you’re born a citizen according to either of these sources, congrats, you’re a natural born citizen.